Neil Ashdown MAFDI

Look for any marks, certification labels, plugs or other signs on the door so that you can trace it to its manufacturer. Then you can obtain the door data sheet or installation instructions and that document will tell you what type of intumescent seals are required and how they should be positioned. If you can't trace back to a manufacturer consult a fire door specialist with all the available information about the doors, so that they can advise appropriately.

I must admit, I am now fire door training provider! https://www.firedoorscomplete.com/training-qualification

Smoke seals to fire doors are necessary for fire doors opening onto escape routes and in locations where sleeping accommodation exists. Of course there are other areas where they might be necessary too. Consult Annex C of the Building Regulations Approved Document B for information. Compression type batwing seals or those held in a carrier and fitted to the door frame stop might work better.

From what you say, this door appears to be a timber-based Nominal Fire Door or Notional Fire Door. That being the case, lipping the top and bottom edges with suitable hardwood and using urea formaldehyde based adhesive would be a suitable repair. Planing the hanging edge by 1mm would also be a suitable repair. An alternative repair for the threshold gap could be to install a threshold plate to the floor, under the door.

Because its a Nominal fire door there is no evidence of fire performance for the door. Because their is no evidence there is no way of checking whether or not glazing is permitted and to what specification. Therefore it remains a Nominal Fire Door but check the glass for evidence of fire resistance, such as a mark in the corner of the panel and check that beads, gaskets and fixings appear to be suitable. Always do your utmost to make sure that it really is a nominal fire door and not a certificated or evidenced fire door but with the certification/evidence marks removed or obscured. Also, still carry out an inspection for fire safety order compliance purposes.

The 2008 version of BS 8214 would have applied in 2014 and this version also stated that such gaps should of the correct dimensions and sealed with non combustible materials. https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/code-of-practice-for-fire-door-assemblies?version=standard

Thanks. I will keep digging and if I find anything useful I will post it on here if I can.

It seems the Building Safety Regulator might have approached the competent person scheme issue without undertaking due diligence. Have any of the members of the competent person schemes agreed to quote for the work?

https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/fire-resistance-historic-timber-panel-doors/

The document to which you refer is used only as an example of a technical manual for a specific type of door by Falcon Timber https://falcon-timber.com/downloads/ . But you need the manual specific to the door in question.

The questions are: 1) Will the door self-close effectively with this type of lock fitted? 2) Will the lock have an adverse effect on the fire resistance performance of the door? Consult the manufacturer of the specific door leaf, where possible, for advice.

The document Hardware for Fire & Escape Doors available at http://firecode.org.uk/Code_of_Practice_hardware_for_fire_and_escape_doors.pdf contains some very useful information about hinges including Critical Recommendations at section 2.2. The information therein should enable you to decide an appropriate course of action. For metal faced timber-based fire resisting doors it will be necessary to consult the technical manual for the 'specific fire door leaf' to find out what is permitted in terms of fire resistance performance. eg

The recommendation is 2mm to 4mm. More than 4mm could be an issue affecting the restricted spread of smoke and potentially premature failure of the door in a fire. Less than 2mm could mean that the door fails to self-close and latch correctly (eg. due to binding on a smoke seal), therefore inspect each door to make sure any tight gaps do not affect the ability of the door to self-close completely.

Me too. NickT said the core was circular whereas these have a tree. As NickT said this might be an early forerunner.

Or maybe they refer to the architrave? Table 2 at section 9 of BS 8214: 2016 requires architraves to be 15mm thick in some situations.

Good work. Have never come across a black plug so thanks for sharing.

Are you sure it's black and not blue? Blue plug with red centre indicates FD60 with intumescent seals required.

Interesting. Thank you for posting 🙂

Hi Maddy, Find a person that has experience and can demonstrate competence relevant to the type of fire door you have. Ask for their credentials.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-approved-document-b

No but assuming the door/frame is timber, stainless steel would be best. Before you go ahead make sure the groove for the seals is clean and consistently of the right depth and width to match the seals.

If the finger guard manufacturer cannot provide this, it is likely that the reason is that in the event of a fire they would burn quickly and fall away from the door assembly. Thus not affecting the fire integrity performance of the door when these are fitted to the fire risk side. On the non-fire risk side, the inherent insulating characteristics of the timber door should mean that the plastic-based finger guards will not be affected.

If you use adhesive it will make it difficult to take them out if necessary. Instead you could you short panel pins to hold them in place.

You could ask https://www.facebook.com/PhilPropertyTurtle/

Its OK. The intumescent strip & smoke seal may be interrupted at lock and hinge fixing points. If the inspector/assessor disagrees, ask them to provide specific evidence that the seal must be continuous and uninterrupted.